362: Zixia's army approaches Cold Moon Valley

On the snowy ground outside Hanyue Valley, three hundred Disciples of the Zixia Holy Land lined up in a neat square Formation, the Zixia patterns on their robes shimmering in the sunlight.

Daoist Master Ziyang stood at the front of the Formation, his whisk waving lightly in his hand. Behind him, the "Zixia Sword" floated in mid-air, its radiance staining the snow a faint crimson—it was the pressure of the Late Stage Land Immortal Realm, making the air at the valley entrance seem to freeze.

"Juniors of Beyond Heaven, come out and meet your death!" Daoist Master Ziyang's voice was like a booming bell, shaking the accumulated snow within the valley until it fell in rustling drifts.

"If you do not hand over the black iron mother lode within three days, this Daoist will trample your Hanyue Valley and completely erase Beyond Heaven from Jianghu!"

Inside the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, the water mirror reflected this scene. Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertips on the table, where a Formation map was spread out, marking the positions of the Zixia Disciples.

"Daoist Master Ziyang certainly has a big mouth." He looked up toward the right side of the water mirror. Zhang Sanfeng was sitting in the Snow-Viewing Pavilion within the valley, holding the tai chi diagram, eyes closed in meditation, his Innate Protective Aura blending with the falling snowflakes.

[Character Panel: Zhang Sanfeng]

[From: "the heaven sword and dragon saber" World]

[Realm: Late Stage Land Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Tai Chi Fist (Perfection), Tai Chi Sword (Perfection), Nine Yang Divine Art (Perfection)]

[Current Status: Gathering Momentum]

[Special Status: Dao Heart Clarity (Increases prediction of Moves from Martial Artists of the same rank by 50%)]

[Loyalty: 86%]

"Young Lord, Daoist Master Ziyang's Zixia Skill has reached the Realm of 'Ten Thousand Rays of Rosy Clouds'. When he draws his sword, he can mobilize Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. Years ago, he used this sword to severely injure three challengers at the Early Stage Land Immortal Realm."

Zhao Gao's voice came from the shadows; the dossier in his hand recorded Daoist Master Ziyang's battle records from the past hundred years.

"The four Elders behind him are all at the Early Stage Land Immortal Realm. Combined with the Zixia Sword Formation, their power is comparable to a Middle Stage expert."

Jun Xiaoyao pushed the Formation map to Zhao Gao: "Tell Kongming to adjust the eye of the Eight Trigrams Formation, swapping the Li Fire position with the Kan Water position to neutralize the scorching heat of the Zixia Skill with the geothermal cold of Hanyue Valley."

"Additionally, notify Yue Fei that the Yue Family Spear Formation should guard the key passages in the valley; there is no need to rush into action."

"Understood."

Outside the valley, seeing no response, Daoist Master Ziyang's face darkened: "It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin!" He said to the four Elders behind him, "Deploy the Zixia Sword Formation and break their valley entrance defense first!"

The four Elders took their orders, their figures scattering like lightning to stand at the East, South, West, and North corners respectively. The radiance of the Zixia Sword connected with the four men's internal energy, forming a purple screen of light. Within the light, thousands of sword shadows were vaguely visible, pressing toward the valley entrance.

Just then, a pale golden light barrier rose within the valley. The Eight Trigrams pattern swirled upon it; it was exactly Kongming's Eight Trigrams Formation. The sword shadows of the Zixia Sword Formation collided with the barrier, emitting a "hissing" sound. The radiance was actually frozen by the cold Qi on the barrier, condensing into ice crystals that fell away.

"Hmm?" A trace of surprise flashed in Daoist Master Ziyang's eyes, "This Formation can actually mobilize cold Qi?" He waved his whisk, injecting more Spiritual Qi into the light screen, "Increase the power! I don't believe I can't break this little Formation!"

In the Snow-Viewing Pavilion, Zhang Sanfeng slowly opened his eyes and smiled at Kongming beside him: "Mr. Kongming's Formation is truly exquisite, but that little brat Ziyang has too much temper; I'm afraid it will take some effort."

Kongming gently waved his feather fan: "I will trouble the Immortal Master to act. My Formation can only delay them for a moment. The true outcome depends on the Immortal Master's Tai Chi Skill."

Zhang Sanfeng stood up, his figure flickering as he appeared at the valley entrance, facing Daoist Master Ziyang from a distance. Looking at the Zixia Sword in the light screen, he stroked his beard and smiled: "Ziyang, it has been a hundred years. Your Zixia Skill has improved quite a bit, but your hostility is much heavier than it was back then."

Seeing Zhang Sanfeng appear, Daoist Master Ziyang's expression changed drastically: "Zhang Sanfeng? Why are you here?" He had a history with Zhang Sanfeng and had even received guidance from him in the past. At this moment, seeing his idol had become a person of Beyond Heaven, he was both shocked and angry.

"This old Daoist is cultivating here. Since someone has come to provoke us, I naturally have to handle it." Zhang Sanfeng's voice was calm but carried undeniable majesty. "The black iron mother lode is an item of Beyond Heaven. Ziyang, if you retreat now, this old Daoist will act as if today never happened."

"Impossible!" A trace of madness flashed in Daoist Master Ziyang's eyes, "The Zixia Sword is on the verge of being tempered; nothing can be lacking! Zhang Sanfeng, if you insist on protecting Beyond Heaven, don't blame me for disregarding our past friendship!" He abruptly withdrew his internal energy, and the Zixia Sword turned into a streak of light, striking straight at Zhang Sanfeng's heart.

"Stubborn and foolish." Zhang Sanfeng sighed, raising his hands slowly. He began the opening Move of Tai Chi Fist, and his Innate Protective Aura formed an invisible barrier. When the tip of the Zixia Sword touched the barrier, it was as if it had entered the sea, unable to advance even an inch further.

"How is this possible?" Daoist Master Ziyang could not believe it. His Zixia Sword was incomparably sharp; even a Middle Stage Land Immortal Realm expert would not dare to block it head-on, yet it was stopped by Zhang Sanfeng's palm wind.

Zhang Sanfeng turned his wrists slightly, using the Tai Chi force to discharge the power of the Zixia Sword. At the same time, he extended his right hand, bringing his index and middle fingers together to point at Daoist Master Ziyang's wrist. This finger seemed slow, but it contained the essence of the Tai Chi Skill. No matter how Daoist Master Ziyang dodged, he felt the fingertip was always aimed at his pulse gate.

Daoist Master Ziyang was forced to withdraw the Zixia Sword and backhanded a palm toward Zhang Sanfeng's chest. The palm wind was scorching, carrying an Aura that burned everything—it was the killing Move of the Zixia Skill, "Rosy Clouds Burning the Heavens."

Zhang Sanfeng was unhurried. His left palm drew a circle, diverting the palm wind to the side. At the same time, he pushed out his right palm. The seemingly gentle palm force carried an endless power; it was the "Grasping the Sparrow's Tail" Move of Tai Chi Fist. The moment the two palms met, Daoist Master Ziyang felt a gentle but irresistible force surge toward him. His own palm power was completely diverted, striking the light screen behind him.

"Boom!"

The light screen of the Zixia Sword Formation was struck by one of their own, and it immediately collapsed. The four Elders were shaken by the force, vomiting blood and turning pale.

"You..." Daoist Master Ziyang was both shocked and angry. He did not expect Zhang Sanfeng's Tai Chi Skill to have reached such a Transcendent level, capable of overcoming hardness with softness to such an extent.

Zhang Sanfeng looked at him, his eyes filled with a bit of disappointment: "Ziyang, although your Zixia Skill is strong, it pursues hardness and ferocity too much. You do not understand the way of combining hardness and softness. A hundred years of cultivation has been wasted."

"Stop spouting nonsense!" Daoist Master Ziyang roared, and the Zixia Sword was unsheathed again. This time, the radiance on the sword condensed into a Vermilion Bird phantom, emitting a sharp cry. This was the forbidden technique of the Zixia Holy Land, "Vermilion Bird Burning Heavens Sword."

"It seems I must personally teach you a lesson." A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Sanfeng's eyes. His figure suddenly moved, and the Tai Chi Sword Moves unfolded. The sword light was like flowing clouds and moving water; it seemed slow but was everywhere, wrapping around the Vermilion Bird phantom layer by layer.

The crisp sounds of "ding ding dang dang" were endless. The flames of the Vermilion Bird phantom were continuously worn away by the sword light of the Tai Chi Sword, gradually becoming dim. Daoist Master Ziyang became more and more alarmed as he fought. He discovered that no matter how fast or fierce his sword Moves were, they would be diverted by Zhang Sanfeng's sword Moves, as if he could never hit the actual target.

"Break!" Zhang Sanfeng gave a low shout, and the tip of the Tai Chi Sword suddenly accelerated, tapping on the spine of the Zixia Sword. Daoist Master Ziyang felt a clever force transmitted, his wrist felt intense pain, and the Zixia Sword flew out of his hand, stabbing into the snow.

Seeing this, the four Elders endured their pain and rushed forward, attempting to besiege Zhang Sanfeng. But Zhang Sanfeng's figure wove between the four, and the "Cloud Hands" of Tai Chi Fist unfolded. His palm shadows were like walls, and all four's attacks missed completely. Instead, they were swept by the palm wind, Flying backward one after another, unable to get up again.

Seeing their leader defeated, the three hundred Zixia Disciples fell into chaos. Some threw down their weapons and wanted to run; others still wanted to put up a desperate fight, but they were blocked by the Yue Family Spear Formation rushing out from the valley. Yue Fei's Li Quan Spear pointed straight at the sky, and the "Rising Dragon Posture" of the spear Formation unfolded. The spear shadows intertwined into a giant dragon, surrounding the Zixia Disciples.

Daoist Master Ziyang looked at the mess on the ground, then at the Zixia Sword in the snow, and finally slumped to the ground with an ashen face: "I lost..."

Zhang Sanfeng walked up to him, waved his whisk, and unsealed his acupoints that had been shaken shut: "Go back. Reflect well on the way of hardness and softness, and do not be obsessed and unrepentant."

Daoist Master Ziyang was silent for a moment, bowed deeply to Zhang Sanfeng, then picked up the Zixia Sword, and left Hanyue Valley in a sorry state with the remaining Disciples.

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched the people of the Zixia Holy Land leave and said to Zhao Gao: "Send people to watch them. If Daoist Master Ziyang behaves himself, so be it. If he dares to make any other Moves, do not ask for instructions, just act directly."

"Understood." Zhao Gao handed over another secret report, "Young Lord, news has come from the capital. The Second Prince has agreed to all our conditions. The Black Armored Army has withdrawn from the three northern states, and the 100,000 jin of refined iron is already on the way. Additionally, he found out that the Blood Shadow Cult indeed has other royal members backing them; it is... the current Emperor's brother, Prince Jing."

Jun Xiaoyao looked up, and the water mirror immediately reflected the figure of Prince Jing. The old man was wearing a prince's python robe, talking secretly with several ministers. The smile on his face looked gentle, but his eyes hid malice.

"Prince Jing?" Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertips on the ice table, "It seems the water of this royal family is deeper than imagined." He looked at the summoning array in the center of the underground palace. The Spiritual Qi of the array had risen to 85% due to the retreat of the Zixia Holy Land. As the runes flowed, a blade shadow actually appeared.

[System Prompt: Detected interference from deep royal forces, triggered hidden summoning.]

[Summonable Character: Flying]

[From: "sentimental swordsman, ruthless sword" World]

[Realm: Peak Heaven-Human Realm]

[Martial Skill: Fast Blade (Perfection), Forbearance Technique (Transcendent)]

[Specialty: Skilled in concealment and tracking, blade speed is extremely fast, can take the enemy's head invisibly, has a keen sense for royal secrets]

[Summoning Cost: 80% Spiritual Qi]

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertips fell, and the summoning array suddenly erupted with dark golden light. The runes flickered like blade light, and a figure dressed in cloth, carrying a firewood knife, condensed in the light. Flying's eyes were indifferent, the scabbard at his waist was severely worn, but it revealed a heart-stopping sharpness. He nodded slightly to Jun Xiaoyao: "Flying, greets the Young Lord."

[Character Panel: Flying]

[Status: Standby]

[Special Ability: Concealment (When blending into the environment, Martial Artists of the same rank are difficult to detect)]

[Loyalty: 80%]

[Current Thought: Prince Jing's mansion is heavily guarded; it's a good place to practice the blade.]

"Flying," Jun Xiaoyao pointed to Prince Jing in the water mirror, "Find out his dealings with the Blood Shadow Cult, as well as the forces he is secretly cultivating. Remember, do not alert the enemy."

Flying did not speak, but turned and stepped into the teleportation array. When his figure disappeared into the light, it was as if he had never appeared.

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched the direction Flying left and said to Zhao Gao: "Prince Jing has operated in the court for many years, and his forces are intertwined. Let The Net cooperate with Flying to collect enough evidence."

"Understood."

The underground palace returned to silence, with only the runes of the summoning array still slowly flowing. Jun Xiaoyao looked at Hanyue Valley outside the window. The snow had stopped, and the sunlight shone through the clouds, gilding the snow peaks with a golden edge. He knew that the threat of the Zixia Holy Land had been resolved, but the royal strife had only just touched the core. The appearance of Prince Jing meant that Beyond Heaven would face more hidden and more dangerous enemies.

But he was not worried. With Zhang Sanfeng guarding Hanyue Valley, Kongming planning strategy, and Flying's fast blade, it was enough to deal with any open or hidden arrows.

And all he had to do was sit deep in this underground palace, watching step by step as the secrets of the royal family were uncovered, until all obstacles threatening the interests of Beyond Heaven were completely cleared.

The Spiritual Qi of the summoning array had begun to rise slowly. As the runes flickered, it seemed to be looking forward to the next summoning.

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the mysterious iron token on the table and looked at it in the sunlight for a moment. The cloud patterns on the token flowed in the light, as if they were alive.

The road belonging to Beyond Heaven was still long, but every step would be taken extremely firmly.